The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has charged State Administrators and all stakeholders on the need to strategically share the responsibility of growing the economy and helping the youth segment achieve its full potential by ensuring that full broadband connectivity is achieved.
Speaking at the Business Roundtable on Improving Investments In Broadband Connectivity And Safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure, held at the NCC Digital Economy Complex in Abuja, on Wednesday, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, harped on connectivity and its effect on growth.
The theme of the event was, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity”.
Underlining the importance of reliable connectivity in implementing key economic and social needs, Maida buttressed: “Consider the industrialist in Enugu closing an overseas shipment; the miner in Zamfara consulting geologists remotely; the entrepreneur in Lagos running an online store; the technician in Yenagoa checking real-time dashboards; the merchant in Kano coordinating cross-border payments; and our security services relying on live intelligence feeds. In each case, connectivity is the quiet enabler. When it fails, opportunities evaporate, productivity stalls—and in critical situations, lives can be put at risk.”
He noted that just as nations that embraced steam, rail, and electrification were surged ahead in the past, the new engine of growth in today’s world are data, broadband, and AI. “Those who seize the moment prosper; hesitation carries a heavy cost.”
While noting that the scope and impact of connectivity have broadened from just faster downloads or smoother video calls, to economic inclusion, productivity, and national resilience, the EVC reiterated the national plan – to achieve 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025 and to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across the country.
He explained that this forms part of the ambitious targets of the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) instituted under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
As of August 2025, Nigeria, he said, had achieved a broadband penetration rate of roughly 48.81% with over 140 million people having internet access. “The ICT/telecom sector is already one of the leading contributors to Nigeria’s GDP. Research shows that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive approximately 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies so imagine what a 20%, 30%, 40% increase in broadband penetration would do – there would be more billions in economic output, new jobs, new services, and innovation hubs across our states.”
Looking at the way forward, Maida noted that with over 200 million people and a median age of 18, Nigeria can not only follow those trajectories set by countries like India with outsourcing and IT service industry worth over $240 billion annually, and Rwanda, which currently positions itself as an African hub of digital services by investing heavily in backbone fibre and digital governance, but surpass them.
And one of the ways to go about this is by early and consistent investment in digital infrastructure and human capacity, especially by equipping our youth with reliable, affordable, high- speed connectivity. “For individuals and small businesses, broadband access turns local markets into national and global ones. It transforms opportunities for our graduates from local to global digital earning possibilities. It transforms a state economy from being dependent on traditional revenue streams to fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem.”
He said that despite challenges with operating environment, the NCC has translated the vision of National Broadband Plan (2020–2025) into deliberate and strategic actions. Some of these actions, he said, included:
- The Presidential Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2024 designating Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) brought about by the sustained advocacy of the Commission, and efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as well as the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE). By this, the NCC instituted campaigns and public awareness for deterrence and speedy prosecution. “Within the last two years, ONSA has successfully dismantled major cartels responsible for the theft of telecommunications equipment across the country.”
- The Commission’s intensified advocacy with States to reduce or waive the Right of Way (RoW) fees to accelerate broadband rollout. This underscores the Commission’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for broadband expansion. “We are also promoting the “dig-once” coordination with public works to cut avoidable fibre damage and lower civil-works costs by sharing ducts and plans. Our goal is uniform, predictable RoW countrywide, paired with clear permitting SLAs.”
- The NCC’s strategic regulatory intervention through tariff adjustment, which has significantly strengthened investor confidence in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. “I can confirm to you that operators have made collective commitment to investing over $1 billion in additional rollout investments to expand broadband coverage and capacity nationwide.”
- The Commission’s performance disclosure strategy for operators, ensuring transparency and data evidence.
Maida however noted that despite these efforts, some challenges still persist. According to him, between January and August 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cut incidents, 3,241 cases of equipment theft, and over 19,000 cases of denials of access to telecom sites. Also, the fragmented and unpredictable Right of Way (RoW) regimes across different states create delays and cost uncertainties for operators.
“Waiving RoW charges, protecting telecom infrastructure, and proactively supporting fibre deployment are decisions that can determine the prosperity or stagnation of your states.
In states that have waived RoW and supported infrastructure protection, operators are expanding networks with greater confidence. This proves that policy direction matters. But we need alignment across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. If every state embraces uniform, pro-investment policies, we can transform Nigeria into a continental digital powerhouse, Maida concluded”
